QUESTION PERIOD — Foreign Affairs and International Trade
United Nations Security Council Membership
December 11, 2019
Well, three weeks from today, on January 1, Mauritania will become a member of the UN Human Rights Council. Mauritania is a country where an estimated half a million people are currently enslaved. Venezuela will also become a UN Human Rights Council member next month.
Earlier this year, a report from our Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade looked into the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in that country and noted that it is not clear when a democratic government, or even a transition towards one, will be realized in Venezuela.
Senator Harder, Libya and Sudan will also become council members in January. Has your government said anything about these countries joining the Human Rights Council?
Again, I thank the honourable senator for his question. He will know that Canada is but one country in the UN General Assembly voting with respect to membership on various committees. The honourable senator will also know that Canada has stood forcefully with like-minded parties with respect to the circumstances in Venezuela, which were referenced specifically. The Lima Group has had Canadian sponsorship for its meetings and resolutions. Canada is vigilant, but Canada is not the only determinant country of who sits on which committee.
